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Journal of Finance Vol. 47 No. 4 1992

Insiders and Outsiders: The Choice between Informed and Arm's‐Length Debt

Raghuram G. Rajan

Abstract

While the benefits of bank financing are relatively well understood, the costs are not. This paper argues that while informed banks make flexible financial decisions which prevent a firm's projects from going awry, the cost of this credit is that banks have bargaining power over the firm's profits, once projects have begun. The firm's portfolio choice of borrowing source and the choice of priority for its debt claims attempt to optimally circumscribe the powers of banks.

DOI
10.1111/j.1540-6261.1992.tb04662.x
Volume
47
Issue
4
Pages
1367-1400
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

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